But under the dome of leaves

by Nelly Sachs

But under the dome of leaves
completely alone
you die for yourself
alone, where each strange look passes away
defacing all encounters
even love

you are
gazing with the four-faced wind into an alien world
Warden over the realm of untouchability
as clear as the teeth of the dead
which glitter in the ash-heap
intended merely for chewing
in this Kingdom
which has sunk away—